stevehaigh Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 i've been using water from my well to make coffee and tea because i can't be bothered buying bottled water all the time. because its boiled i'm not worried about bacteria etc, and the water looks very clean and tastes fine. but i do wonder if there might me any nasty chemicals from underground, like maybe tin or something. i'm in rawai, just at the foot of the hills that run between rawai and kata anyone every tested ground water around here? thx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shot Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 I would be more concerned about any sewer systems (or lack of) nearby. IMHO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven100 Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 I wouldn't be drinking it even though you boil it. Of coarse it's going to be contaminated ... it's a well, who knows what is dead in there or what leaks into it ..... the thought makes me cringe ! how much does a bottle of safe bottled water cost ..... Thai's die from drinking unsafe water ......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyoldman Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 I started to use it recently for coffee also Steve, same scenario. Then I noticed I started to get breakouts, skin rash, on the insides of my elbows which years ago was diagnosed by Dr. Chusak (during a bad drought year) as from the metals in my shower water as my well had gotten low back then. Equated that from years ago with the recent experience, stopped using the well water for my coffee, rash gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehaigh Posted December 6, 2015 Author Share Posted December 6, 2015 thanks for a useful informed answer GOM in response to the 1st two answers, no chance of anything dead in there as its covered and no sewers anywhere close. i've been using it for about a month and haven't noticed any effects, but maybe it takes time to build up i guess i need to use the bottled water Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenl Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 thanks for a useful informed answer GOM in response to the 1st two answers, no chance of anything dead in there as its covered and no sewers anywhere close. i've been using it for about a month and haven't noticed any effects, but maybe it takes time to build up i guess i need to use the bottled water Just use the big cans. I'd presume they don't deliver to your door but do to the end of your soi? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chainsaw Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 I've been using boiled well water for tea and coffee for the past 10 years with no ill effects at all. I live in the same area as the OP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelepulse Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 I had a number of wells dug and all of them tested. Some were fine, while one showed traces of metals, so it's a crap shoot until you get your water tested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GiantFan Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 Buy a RO filter. Metals will be filtered out by RO membrane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenBravo Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 Lots of tin oxide nodules all over the island. When they dug my well, there was loads. My advice is buy the big bottles of water that fit into a dispenser. They're cheap. Don't use well water for drinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinot Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 I've wondered about this. Bottled water is cheap and we get it delivered and the TG handles all this, as well as keeping the pitcher full, but where might someone get it tested? Maybe I'll see if I can save 60 baht a month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billphillips Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 I've wondered about this. Bottled water is cheap and we get it delivered and the TG handles all this, as well as keeping the pitcher full, but where might someone get it tested? Maybe I'll see if I can save 60 baht a month. Another interesting point may be ..... where do these suppliers of the giant bottles get their water from? What tests and to what standard is it subjected to? What is the tested % of supplied water. Nahhhh, I'm not gana use any of that stuff thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamini Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 don't drink well water under any circumstances. Even if you boil it. I developed severe herbicide poisoning. Even though . Not only did I boil the water, but filtered it through a ceramic filter as well. My condition was serious and investigations by an agricultural expert found that there was herbicide leaking from nearby fields into the water , feeding my well. This was on my property in Sangkampeng. It took nearly 10 years to get the herbicide out of my system and even today I do not know whether there is any residue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonsalviz Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 I've wondered about this. Bottled water is cheap and we get it delivered and the TG handles all this, as well as keeping the pitcher full, but where might someone get it tested? Maybe I'll see if I can save 60 baht a month. Seems I heard the the places that sell water filters will get it done. Don't know the price but you can bet the are gonna be hard selling a filter system. The testing facilities are government I think so it should be a true test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DogNo1 Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 You can't always trust bottled water! I've been drinking my hotel brand drinking water since I arrived in Bangkok two weeks ago and have been buying 5 L. bottles of mineral water for brushing my teeth and washing fruit and vegetables. Until today, I had been feeling progressively more weak and listless each day with blurry vision. This afternoon, I read an article in the NYT about the puzzling medical case of a young woman who was admitted to the Yale-New Haven Hospital barely able to move with very low electrolyte levels. The light bulb went off! I came back to the hotel and drank several glasses of the mineral water. I recovered in two hours and have felt sharp and well since. The pain in my shoulders went away and I feel MUCH better. I am guessing that the process that some companies use to make drinking water here (probably reverse osmosis) strips the minerals from the water and they are not added back in, perhaps to lower costs. As a result, the drinking water that we are left with is similar to distilled water. I can't believe my dramatic recovery. I'm very pleased but I recommend that TV posters be careful about the water that they choose to drink! Make sure that it contains the minerals that your body needs to run well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expatbrit Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 You can't always trust bottled water! I've been drinking my hotel brand drinking water since I arrived in Bangkok two weeks ago and have been buying 5 L. bottles of mineral water for brushing my teeth and washing fruit and vegetables. Until today, I had been feeling progressively more weak and listless each day with blurry vision. This afternoon, I read an article in the NYT about the puzzling medical case of a young woman who was admitted to the Yale-New Haven Hospital barely able to move with very low electrolyte levels. The light bulb went off! I came back to the hotel and drank several glasses of the mineral water. I recovered in two hours and have felt sharp and well since. The pain in my shoulders went away and I feel MUCH better. I am guessing that the process that some companies use to make drinking water here (probably reverse osmosis) strips the minerals from the water and they are not added back in, perhaps to lower costs. As a result, the drinking water that we are left with is similar to distilled water. I can't believe my dramatic recovery. I'm very pleased but I recommend that TV posters be careful about the water that they choose to drink! Make sure that it contains the minerals that your body needs to run well. Please provide a link to the NYT article ................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon43 Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 Of course, the purity of well water is very much dependent upon the location of the well, seepage of pesticides etc from nearby fields. The unlined well on my land in north Phuket is only used for guest shower/bathroom water. But brushing one's teeth in it seems OK and my Thai staff drink the water without apparent problem. Anyway, since there are fish swimming in the well, I guess the water is not that bad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenBravo Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 Of course, the purity of well water is very much dependent upon the location of the well, seepage of pesticides etc from nearby fields. The unlined well on my land in north Phuket is only used for guest shower/bathroom water. But brushing one's teeth in it seems OK and my Thai staff drink the water without apparent problem. Anyway, since there are fish swimming in the well, I guess the water is not that bad Yup, nothing like a touch of fish crap to add that certain je nais se quois to the flavour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyoldman Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 I've been using boiled well water for tea and coffee for the past 10 years with no ill effects at all. I live in the same area as the OP. Chainsaw, you sure my friend, last time I saw you your complexion was a tad off......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon43 Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 (edited) Yup, nothing like a touch of fish crap to add that certain je nais se quois to the flavour. It seems to work OK with the expensive civit crap coffee beans Edited December 7, 2015 by simon43 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chainsaw Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 I've been using boiled well water for tea and coffee for the past 10 years with no ill effects at all. I live in the same area as the OP. Chainsaw, you sure my friend, last time I saw you your complexion was a tad off......... Young Frank cast.jpg You're still bitter GOM since I snaffled your bottle of beer Lao at the softball game. (I'll replace it someday - promise) My complexion has improved since I stopped drinking wine from a certain outlet - just saying! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimera Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 The government water test is expensive, 6-7000 baht if I remember correctly but comprehensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyoldman Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 I've been using boiled well water for tea and coffee for the past 10 years with no ill effects at all. I live in the same area as the OP. Chainsaw, you sure my friend, last time I saw you your complexion was a tad off......... Young Frank cast.jpg You're still bitter GOM since I snaffled your bottle of beer Lao at the softball game. (I'll replace it someday - promise) My complexion has improved since I stopped drinking wine from a certain outlet - just saying! Yes, but our fruit wine plonk is better !!!!!!! I probably prefer Steve's cadmium laced well water to that cr@p. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubblegum Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 drink it daily, no problem at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GiantFan Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 (edited) RO membrane only allows small molecules to pass. Hydrogen and oxygen are some of the smallest, even if combined. Heavy metals, lead, tin, etc... won't get passed. Only a few thousand baht. Worth the investment. Edited December 7, 2015 by GiantFan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hansgruber Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 I drink it all. Rain water collected from the drains and well water pumps into one tank. Drink it daily. Then i was told dont drink the rain water due to rats deficating and urinating in the drains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shot Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 I too drink the well water. No problems yet other than the third arm growing out my back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehaigh Posted December 7, 2015 Author Share Posted December 7, 2015 You can't always trust bottled water! I've been drinking my hotel brand drinking water since I arrived in Bangkok two weeks ago and have been buying 5 L. bottles of mineral water for brushing my teeth and washing fruit and vegetables. Until today, I had been feeling progressively more weak and listless each day with blurry vision. This afternoon, I read an article in the NYT about the puzzling medical case of a young woman who was admitted to the Yale-New Haven Hospital barely able to move with very low electrolyte levels. The light bulb went off! I came back to the hotel and drank several glasses of the mineral water. I recovered in two hours and have felt sharp and well since. The pain in my shoulders went away and I feel MUCH better. I am guessing that the process that some companies use to make drinking water here (probably reverse osmosis) strips the minerals from the water and they are not added back in, perhaps to lower costs. As a result, the drinking water that we are left with is similar to distilled water. I can't believe my dramatic recovery. I'm very pleased but I recommend that TV posters be careful about the water that they choose to drink! Make sure that it contains the minerals that your body needs to run well. i've been drinking RO water for 12 years or so and no ill effects so it obviously doesn't effect everyone the same as you. all the local bottled water comes from their own well and is RO filtered. ther problem i have with the big reusable bottles is the cleaning is pretty sloppy. i've seen green slime in the bottom of them many times. but having said that, i still drink it since i moved out of my house with my own RO filter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenBravo Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 Pay a bit more (35 Bt) and you get the clear bottles, not the white, opaque plastic ones, which I have also seen with algae growing in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsetBkk Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 Well water? Geez, I remember when the Gazette used to have this in the back pages: Strangely, no longer there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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